Workers Compensation Insurance
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Get workers compensation insurance quotes, cost & coverage fast. Workers comp is required for employers in most states and protects your business by paying for employee medical, disability, rehabilitation & survivor benefits.

Workers Comp

Owning a business can be quite rewarding, but there are certain risks that you need to be aware of. One of the biggest risks that business owners - especially those that are just getting started out - overlook is a employee getting injured on the job.

Accidents happen. An employee can slip and fall; a piece of machinery could malfunction; an illness could occur as a result of a worker being exposed to something dangerous on your worksite (unbeknownst to you). In the event that someone you employ becomes injured or ill while on the job, you are held legally responsible. For that reason, you need to make sure that you have workers compensation insurance.

Does My Business Need Workers Compensation?

If you have an existing business, or are starting a new business, don't overlook the importance of getting workers compensation insurance. Here's a look at 5 reasons why you should have it:

It's The Law. In most states, businesses are required by law to have workers compensation insurance. The laws do vary from state to state, so make sure that you do familiarize yourself with the laws that apply in your state. Typically, business owners can purchase a policy through an insurance agent; however, some states do require businesses to get coverage via a state-operated funds.

It Protects Your Business. workers compensation insurance coverage not only protects your employees, but it also protects your business. Though cases do vary, often times, when a business offers workers' comp coverage to its employees, workers agree to forfeit their rights to sue a business for negligence in the event of an accident or an illness. This will reduce costly the financial hardships that are associated with lawsuits, as well the damages that legal action could have on your business in the future. For example, businesses that have had lawsuits filed against them for wrong-doing in the case of an accident often have their reputation marred, which could have a negative impact on the success of the business.

It's Beneficial For Employees. Should an employee be involved in an accident and sustain an injury, or falls ill as a result of being exposed to a toxic chemical or fume while on the job, and is unable to work, workers comp will cover their expenses. These expenses include lost wages, medical costs, and more. In essence, workers comp serves as a financial safety net for your employees.

Assists With Recovery. Not only does workers' compensation insurance assist with lost wages and medical expenses, but it also covers some of the cost that is associated with any training or rehabilitation that employees may need so that they can return back to work. Moreover, should an employee be unable to return to work, the insurance will provide him or her with training that will better suit his or her new needs.

Helps Employees' Loved Ones. Workers' compensation insurance can also protect the loved ones of your employees. For example, it protects from the hardships that lost wages could impose on a family. In the extremely unfortunate event that a worker perishes as a result of his or her injuries or illness, workers comp insurance will likely cover at least some, if not all, of the funeral expenses. Some packages also offer surviving family members benefits.

For these reasons, workers' compensation coverage is a sound business investment. It protects your employees, their loves ones, your business - and you - from the financial hardships and the legal repercussions that could come about in the unfortunate event that one of your workers is injured or becomes ill while on the job. It is a requirement in most states, and because of the several benefits that this insurance offers, it's easy to see why.

What Does Workers Compensation Insurance Cover?

Workers compensation insurance cover only work-related injury or illness including: lost wages, medical expenses, and other benefits to employees who may become injured or sick while they are working. It's a sound business investment, as it protects your most important asset: your employees.

A workers compensation policy usually has two parts:

Workers Compensation Insurance: The first part of the policy fulfills statutory obligations under the workers' compensation laws. Under this section, the insurer agrees to pay all workers compensation benefits and other benefits that the employer must legally provide to covered employees who have a job-related injury or an occupational disease.

Employers Liability Insurance: The second part of the policy covers employers against lawsuits by employees who are injured in the course of employment, but whose injuries (or diseases) are not compensable under the state's workers compensation law. This part is similar to other liability insurance policies where negligence must be established before the insurer is legally obligated to pay.

What Workers Compensation Insurance Doesn't Cover

Workers compensation typically does not cover:

Self-inflicted injuries

Felony-related injuries

Injuries an employee suffers off the job

Injuries claimed after an employee is terminated or laid off

Injuries from a fight started by the employee

Injuries caused by intoxication or drugs

Injuries resulting from horseplay or violation of company policy

Injuries to an independent contractor

How Much Does Workers Compensation Insurance Cost?

Most workers compensation classifications use remuneration or payroll as the exposure or rating basis to calculate premium. A few are rated based on a flat premium charge per-employee or per-capita, such as domestic workers. The primary reason to use remuneration assumes that employees in more hazardous jobs are paid more and, the more hours worked, the higher the pay.

It is important to realize that remuneration includes more than just payroll. NCCI defines remuneration as "money or substitutes for money." This definition results in a list of other items NCCI manual rules treat as remuneration. It includes the following but is not limited to just these:

Wages, salaries, commissions, and commission draws

Bonuses. This includes stock bonuses.

Overtime pay, holiday pay, vacation pay, and sick pay

Pay for piece work

Profit-sharing plans and incentive plans

Meals or lodging that makes up part of pay

Expense payments the employer makes to the employee that are not substantiated by documentation.

The complete list is in the NCCI Basic Manual for Workers Compensation and Employers Liability Insurance. This abbreviated list gives just an idea of the many types and extent of remuneration and the fact that it may be more than just a paycheck.

Some types of remuneration are not included and are not used to calculate premium. Those include tips, employee awards, severance pay, military duty pay, food, lodging, uniform allowances, and similar expenses for company-sponsored travel.

Overtime pay is the most complicated issue involved in accurately determining remuneration because the increased per hour paid for that overtime cannot be used. The base per hour remuneration can be used but not that increased per hour rate. Incentive pay or shift differential pay that encourages employees to work unpopular shifts or days is not treated as overtime pay. When the employer maintains good payroll records that clearly indicate the amount of overtime, the remuneration used to calculate the premium does not include the additional or extra rate of pay for the overtime.

How much does Workers Compensation insurance cost? The cost of workers comp insurance varies tremendously, depending on your industry and location. If you are in an industry where work-related injuries are more likely to occur or in a state where insurance premiums are higher, then it will cost more.

For example, for a roofer, tree trimmer, or demolition company, the cost could be $17 per $100 in payroll, or even higher. On the other hand, the cost to cover a attorney, accountant or real estate agent could be under $0.20 per $100 of their payroll. So, for an employee that earns $40,000 a year, a blue collar contracting company could pay around $6800, where a white collar business may pay just $80.

Also your workers comp rates can go up or down depending on your accident history, much like they would for most types of insurance.

Do you own, operate, or manage a business which includes at least one employee? Are you familiar with the laws of the states where you operate regarding workers compensation insurance coverage?

The Workers Compensation and Employers Liability Insurance Policy covers your statutory liability as an employer under state workers compensation laws. It pays for medical treatment because of injuries and indemnity payments for employees disabled by work-related accidents. It also provides tort liability coverage for legal actions brought against you for bodily injuries to your employees that fall outside state workers compensation laws.

The coverages provide the benefits that the law requires for injuries employees sustain that arise out of and in the course of their employment, including resulting disease or death, subject to certain policy terms and conditions. In addition, if the employee injury is not compensable under applicable state workers compensation laws or occupational disease acts, Employers Liability Insurance responds to the employee's allegation of negligence by you, again subject to certain policy terms, conditions, and exclusions.

Consult the policy for definitions and limitations. The information below does not represent contract terms. The policy is subject to company underwriting practices.

GENERAL SECTION

The policy consists of the Information Page, the coverage form, and all endorsements and schedules at policy inception. It is an insurance contract between you and the insurance company. It includes all agreements that relate to the insurance and can be changed only by written endorsements the company issues.

PART ONE - WORKERS COMPENSATION INSURANCE

Workers compensation insurance applies to bodily injury by accident that occurs during the policy term. It also includes bodily injury by disease caused or aggravated by employment conditions. The insurance company pays benefits you are required to pay when they are due.

The policy covers your entire liability as an employer under the workers compensation laws of the state or states involved. This includes a number of statutory provisions included and referred to in the policy, if required by state law.

PART TWO - EMPLOYERS LIABILITY INSURANCE

Employers liability insurance protects you against suits brought against you by employees for injuries due to accidents or diseases that arise from their employment by you. This coverage is subject to specific limits and has a number of exclusions.

PART THREE - OTHER STATES INSURANCE

Coverage applies to only the states where you have operations. You can have coverage in additional states by listing them in item 3.C. on the Information Page. Doing so provides coverage if an injury occurs in another state but there are limitations. There is no coverage if you operate in a state on the policy effective date that the insurance company does not know about. In addition, you must notify the insurance company if you begin operations in any state.

PART FOUR - YOUR DUTIES IF AN EMPLOYEE IS INJURED

You must immediately inform the insurance company of any injury that the policy may cover. This is the most important requirement. The others require that you cooperate with the insurance company and are similar to provisions in other liability insurance coverage forms and policies.

PART FIVE - PREMIUM

This section explains how the policy premium is determined, based on the manuals, rules, classifications, rates, and rating plans in effect on the policy inception date. It explains how to arrive at and use classifications and explains remuneration or payroll, as well as how premium is calculated and premium audit's role in determining the final premium. It also explains the records you must keep to determine the correct and final premium.

PART SIX - CONDITIONS

This section addresses several key policy conditions. The most important include the role of inspections and their limitations and cancellation terms as they affect both you and the insurance company.

ENDORSEMENTS

The NCCI Workers Compensation and Employers Liability Insurance Policy may have to be modified for a specific risk. Numerous endorsements are available that broaden, limit, or exclude coverage.

Get A Workers Compensation Insurance Quote

If you own or are starting a business, let one of our expert agents take a look at your current business policy. We offer a wide variety of options to ensure that your employees and you are properly protected from the hazards that could happen on the job. In most cases we can save you money and offer you better policy options than you currently may have.